Hermetic compressor mounting system



Dec. 20, 1966 r o. H. SCHELDORF HERMETIC COMPRESSOR MOUNTING SYSTEMFiled May 2'7. 1965 "I," 32 4' liim INVENTOR. OWEN H. SCHELDORF' H\SATTORNEY United States Patent 3,292,884 HERMETIC COMPRESSOR MOUNTINGSYSTEM Owen H. Schelrlorf, Fern Creek, Ky., assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Filed May 27, 1965, Ser. No. 459,2965 Claims. (Cl. 248-20) The present invention relates to a hermeticcompressor and is more particularly concerned with an improved means forlaterally supporting and resiliently limiting vibrational movement of acompressor unit within a hermetic casing.

Hermetically sealed compressors such as those used in the refrigeratorindustry comprise a motor-compressor unit contained within ahermetically sealed casing. For the purpose of protecting themotor-compressor unit against damage during handling or shipment and toabsorb the normal operating vibrations of the unit, the unit is usuallyresiliently supported within and in normally spaced relationship to thecasing. In order to limit the space required for the hermetic compressorand decrease the cost thereof, it is desirable to keep the clearancesbetween the casing and the motor-compressor unit, or in other words thesize of the casing, as small as possible. For many hermetic compressorapplications, as for example in refrigeration systems for householdrefrigerators, room air conditioners and the like, it is furtherdesirable that the support means be of a construction such that thetransmission of the normal motor-compressor unit operating noises to thecasing through the support means will be low.

An object of the present invention is to produce a hermetic compressorincluding improved means for resiliently supporting the motor-compressorunit within a casing designed to minimize the clearance required betweena unit and the casing and also to minimize noise transmission from theunit to the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost vibrationabsorbing means for supporting a compressor unit within a casing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a hermeticcompressor including a vibration support means including a single springfor laterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of thecompressor unit within the casing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of thisspecification.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a casing, a motorcompressor unit vertically supportedwithin the casing by resilient means positioned between the bottom ofthe compressor unit and the casing and new and improved lateral supportmeans for laterally stabilizing the motorcompressor unit and limitingmovement thereof within the casing. The lateral support means comprisesa single tension spring and means for securing the spring to the casingunder tension and in a horizontal position above the motor-compressorunit. The spring comprises a center section of reduced cross sectionwhich has a higher spring rate or constant than the two end sections ofthe spring and which is connected to these end sections by opposedshoulder sections. The spring is anchored to an upper portion of themotor-compressor unit by means comprising spaced shoulders adapted toengage the shoulder sections on the springs and outwardly flaredvertical wall portions on opposite sides of the outer or end sections ofthe spring. The spacing between the spring shoulder sections and theshoulder portions of the ice anchoring means are such that the centersection of the spring is subjected to tension forces greater than thetension forces applied by the support means mounted on the casingwhereby during operation of the hermetic compressor unit, the shouldersections of the spring are at all times maintained in constantengagement with the shoulder portions of the anchoring means. Horizontaland rotational movement of the motor-compressor unit is snubbed anddamped by the spring forces and particularly by progressive contact ofone or both end sections of the spring with one or more of the verticalwall portions of the anchoring means.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a hermeticcompressor embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the single spring component of the lateral supportmeans forming part of the hermetic compressor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in whichthe spring of FIGURE 2 is mounted in an anchoring means secured to thecompressor unit; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along lines 44of FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, there is shown ahermetically sealed compressor comprising a horizontal motorcompressorunit 1 comprising a motor 2 for driving a compressor 3, the unit beinghoused within a sealed casing 5. The casing comprises an upper portion 6and a lower portion 7 secured together in fluid tight relationship bythe welding of suitable flanges 8. As the detailed construction of thecompressor unit forms no particular part of the present invention, itsspecific construction features are neither shown nor described indetail.

For the purpose of vertically and resiliently supporting the compressorunit 1 within the casing 5, there is provided a single coil spring 9disposed between the bottom of the unit and the bottom of the casing.This spring 9 normally supports the entire weight of the compressor unitwithin the casing and it is preferably positioned at approximately thecenter of gravity of the unit in order that the unit will be balanced asmuch aspossible on this vertical support means. The spring is largelyconfined within a cup 10 having tapered side walls which permit limitedlateral or horizontal movement of the upper portion of the spring 9 andhence the lower portion of the compressor unit within the casing. Theupper end of the spring 9 encompasses a pin 11 secured to the bottom ofthe compressor unit 1 and extending into the cup 10 whereby underabnormal or severe shock conditions, contact of the portions of thespring surrounding the pin 11 with the sides of the cup 10 will limitlateral displacement of the unit 1 within the casing 5.

The spring 9 also absorbs or snubs some of the vertical vibrations ormovements of the unit. In order to laterally support the upper portionof the unit within the casing and also to snub or resist vibratorymovement thereof, primarily in horizontal directions, the presentinvention provides a new and improved vibration absorbing mountconnecting the upper portion of the unit 1 to the upper portion 6 of thecasing. The means for accomplishing this result comprises a singletension spring shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing and indicatedgenerally by the numeral 14. The illustrated spring is a helical coilspring of an hour glass configuration or shape and includes a reducedcenter section 15 having a smaller diameter and hence a higher springrate or constant than the two end sections 16 and 17. The center section15 is joined to the end sections 16 and 17 by means of conical ortapered shoulder sections 18 and 19.

The spring 14 forms part of a sub-assembly illustrated in FIGURE 3 ofthe drawing and including means for anchoring the spring to themotor-compressor unit 1. More specifically the anchoring means comprisesa bracket 20 adapted to be brazed, welded or otherwise secured to thetop surface of the compressor unit 1 and including an inverted channelsection generally indicated by the numeral 21 for receiving the spring14. This channel section includes a center portion 22 for receiving thecenter section 15 of the spring, the center portion 22 terminating inshoulder portions 23 and 24 respectively adapted to engage the shouldersections 18 and 19 of the spring and to place the center section 22 ofthe spring under tension forces greater than any that will be applied tothe spring during normal operation of the compressor 1 and sufiicient tomaintain the spring shoulder sections in contact with the shoulderportions 23 and 24 at all times. A tab 26 adapted to be folded over thecenter section 15 of spring after insertion thereof into the recesschannel 21 serves to retain the spring within the channel. The channel21 also includes opposed diverging, and preferably arcuate, verticalwall portions 28 and 29 extending outwardly from the shoulders 23 and 24on opposite sides of the spring end sections 16 and 17.

The sub-assembly shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing is adapted to beconnected to the upper end of the com pressor unit 1 in the positionillustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing in which position a tab 30extending downwardly over one end of the housing for the motor 2 and aslot 31 adapted to slip over a pin 32 secured to the top of thecompressor unit I serve to position the anchoring bracket on the uppersurface of the compressor 1.

For the purpose of connecting the sub-assembly shown in FIGURE 3 of thedrawing to the casing, there is provided a casing bracket 33 shown insome detail in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing, which spacing bracket issecured as by welding to the top of the upper casing portion 6. Thisbracket includes opposed hook portions disposed on opposite sides of theupper casing portion 6 in a position between the casing and the unit.These hooks 35 are adapted to receive the end loops 36 on the spring 14and are spaced a sufiicient distance apart so that when the spring ismounted on the hooks 35 as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 4 of thedrawing the spring 14 will be under sufiicient tension so that the loopsor coils forming the end portions 16 and 17 of the spring will beseparated or spaced by the tension forces so applied.

The casing bracket 33 also includes an aperture or opening 39 forloosely receiving the pin 32 for limiting abnormal movement of thecompressor 1 within the casing in the same manner as the pin 11 and cup10.

To complete the assembly of the compressor after the unit 1 is securedto the upper casing portion 6 by attaching the spring loops 36 to thehooks 35, the lower casing half 7 is placed in position and the casingsealed by welding of the flanges 8.

From the above description it will be seen that the single spring 14provides the sole means for resiliently supporting the upper portion ofthe compressor unit 1 in spaced relationship with the casing 5. The useof a multidiameter spring allows the spring to perform several functionsat a relatively low cost. In the attachment of the spring to theanchoring bracket 20, the relative spacing of the bracket shoulders 23and 24 as compared with the relative spacing of the tapered or conicalspring sections 18 and 19 subject the reduced center portion 15 of'thespring to a tension which effectively spaces the individual coilsthereof and which maintains this center portion, having a higher springrate than the end portions 16 and 17, under sufiicient tension to assurecontinuous contact of the spring shoulders with the bracket shouldersand effectively prevent any slippage or impact of the spring with thesupporting bracket 20 during normal operation of the compressor unit. Inother words the center portion 15 of the spring is subjected to tensionforces by the snubbing action.

rections, of either axial or rotational nature, is obtained.

by means of the diverging wall portions 28 and 29 on opposite verticalsides of the end sections 16 and 17 of the spring. To obtain a smoothand progressively increasing snubbing action in these directions, thewall portions 28 and 29 are preferably of arcuate configuration wherebyduring either linear or rotational movement of the corn-q pressor in anydirection other than the above-mentioned side-to-side direction,successive turns or coils of the end sections 16 and 17 of the springwill successively come in contact with the wall portions 28 and 29 or atleast some of these wall portions to supply a progressively increasingHowever, in the normal positioning 6 of the spring within the channel 21as illustrated in FIG-1 URE 4 of the drawing, a maximum number of the,coil turns are free from restraint for the purpose of effectivelyisolating the compressor from the case and minimizing noisetransmission.

Preferably the entire spring is made of the same diameter wire so thatthe higher spring rate or constant of the center portion 15 of thespring is obtained resulting solely by its smallerdiameter as comparedwith the end sections 16 and 17.

For greater stability as well as maximum noise damp: ing, the usualcylindrical, longitudinal split collapsible spring steel dampers 41 arepositioned within each of the 1 end sections 16 and 17 of the spring. Inaddition to performing their usual noise damping function, thesecylindri cal dampers 41, which preferably extend the full length I ofthe end sections 16 and 17 in their extended positions I as illustratedin FIGURE 4 of the drawing, laterally stabilize these end sections andthus provide an increased resistance against the bending or curvingthereof as these end sections are brought into engagement with one ormore of the wall portions 28 and 29 during horizontal or rotationalmovement of the compressor 1 within the casing.

From the above description it will be seen that there.

has been provided resilient mounting arrangement for laterallysupporting the upper, portion of a compressor within the casing which isof simple and low cost con:

struction and which includes a single tension spring for absorbing ordamping all normal vibrations of the compressor horizontal, linear orrotational directions. It comprises only inexpensive componentscomprising a bracket secured to the case, a single mounting spring sup-,

ported on the bracket and anchoring means for securing 1 the centerportion of the spring to the compressor.

While the present invention has been described with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be; understood that it is notlimited thereto and is intended by the appended claims to cover all suchmodifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is: m

1. A hermetic compressor comprising a casing, and a motor-compressorunit in said casing;

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting and limitingvibrational movement of said unit comprisa horizontally disposed,tension spring including a center section separated from the endsections by opposed coned sections and having a higher spring rate thansaid end sections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of saidcasing and for applying thereto a tension force suflicient to deflectthe end sections but not the center section of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spacedshoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting the said centersection to a tension force greater than the force applied by saidconnecting means,

said anchoring means including flared end portions for engagement bysaid spring end sections to snub horizontal movements of said unit.

2. A hermetic compressor including a casing, a resiliently supportedmotor-compressor unit in said casing;

and vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting and limitingvibrational movement of said unit comprising;

a horizontally disposed, helically coiled, tension spring including acenter section separated from the end sections by opposed coned sectionsand having a smaller diameter and higher spring rate than said endsections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of saidcasing and for applying thereto a tension force suflicient to deflectthe end section coils but not the center section coils of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spacedshoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting said centersection to a tension force greater than the force applied by saidconnecting means and sufficient to separate the center section coils,

said anchoring means including flared end portions of arcuate shape forprogressive engagement by said spring end sections to thereby snubhorizontal movements of said unit.

3. A hermetic compressor including a casing and a resiliently supportedmotor-compressor unit in said casing; vibration absorbing means forlaterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of said unitcomprisa horizontally disposed, helically coiled tension springincluding a center section separated from the end sections by opposedconed sections and having a higher spring rate than said end sections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of saidcasing and for applying thereto a tension force sufficient to elongatethe end sections but not the center section of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spacedshoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting said centersection to a tension force greater than the force applied by saidconnecting means and suflicient to elongate said center section,

said anchoring means including flared arcuate end portions forprogressive engagement by said spring end sections upon horizontalmovement of said unit,

and split cylindrical spring dampers within said end sections forstabilizing said end sections to resist bending thereof.

4. In a hermetic compressor assembly including a casing, amotor-compressor unit in said casing, and a resilient supporting memberbetween the bottom portion of said casing and said unit for verticallysupporting said unit;

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting said unit comprising;

a helical tension spring including a center section having a higherspring constant than the end sections thereof and shoulder sections ateach end of said center portion,

means for securing said spring to an upper portion of said unitcomprising a horizontally extending recess containing said spring,

said recess including spaced shoulders for engaging said taperedshoulder sections of said spring and maintaining said center section ofsaid spring under tension,

means for securing the opposite ends of said spring to said casing andto apply thereto a tension force less than that applied to said centersection by said recess shoulders,

said recess including flared end portions at least partiallyencompassing the end sections of said spring,

each of said end portions including opposed arcuate vertical Wall areasengaging said spring adjacent the tapered shoulder sections thereof andnormally spaced from the remaining parts of said end sections of saidspring whereby movement of said unit in a horizontal plane is yieldinglyresisted by progressive contact of at least one end section of saidspring with a wall portion of said recess.

5. A hermetic compressor assembly comprising;

a. casing,

a motor-compressor unit in said casing,

a resilient supporting member between the bottom portion of said casingand said unit for vertically supporting said unit,

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting said unit comprising;

a helical tension spring including a center section of smallercross-section than the end sections thereof and tapered shouldersections at each end of said center section,

means for securing said spring to an upper portion of said unitincluding a horizontally extending recess for receiving said spring,

said recess including spaced shoulders for engaging said taperedshoulder sections of said spring and maintaining said center section ofsaid spring under tension,

means for securing the opposite ends of said spring to said casing andto apply thereto a tension force less than that applied to said centersection by said recess shoulders,

said recess including end portions at least partially encompassing theend sections of said spring,

each of said end portions including opposed arcuate vertical Wall areasengaging said spring adjacent the tapered shoulder sections thereof andnormally spaced from the remaining parts of said end sections of saidspring whereby movement of said unit in a horizontal plane is yieldinglyresisted by progressive contact of at least one end section of saidspring with a wall portion of said recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Citedby the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1949 Heitchue. 3/ 1961Scheldorf.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Acting Primary Examiner.

R. P. SEI'IT ER. Assistant Examiner.

1. A HERMETIC COMPRESSOR COMPRISING A CASING, AND A MOTOR-COMPRESSORUNIT IN SAID CASING; VIBRATION ABSORBING MEANS FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTINGAND LIMITING VIBRATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT COMPRISING; AHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, TENSION SPRING INCLUDING A CENTER SECTIONSEPARATED FROM THE END SECTIONS BY OPPOSED CONED SECTIONS AND HAVING AHIGHER SPRING RATE THAN SAID END SECTIONS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDSOF SAID SPRING TO AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID CASING AND FOR APPLYINGTHERETO A TENSION FORCE SUFFICIENT TO DEFLECT THE END SECTIONS BUT NOTTHE CENTER SECTION OF SAID SPRING, ANCHORING MEANS FOR ANCHORINGSAIDDPRING TO SAID UNIT COMPRISING SPACED SHOULDERS ENGAGING SAID CONEDSECTIONS FOR SUBJECTING THE SAID CENTER SECTION TO A TENSION FORCEGREATER THAN THE FORCE APPLIED BY SAID CONNECTING MEANS, SAID ANCHORINGMEANS INCLUDING FLARED END PORTIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID SPRING ENDSECTIONS TO SNUB HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID UNIT.